Hotpots mascot stolen

A trip over the border into Yorkshire resulted in Lancashire’s finest funnyman band having their mascot, waistcoats and flatcaps stolen.

The band was playing the o2 Academy in Sheffield last Saturday when the thives struck during the encore.

The flat cap was dumped outside the venue but the Little Johnny Green puppet and the waistcoats are still missing.

Dickie Ticker said: “It looks like it was a fan. A lot of the venues we play they shut because there is a shift over, so it’ll be a club night after the concert and they like to clear the venue.

“There was always the possibility of somebody moving it.

“The flat cap is the one I have worn since Day One; I’ve worn it at Glastonbury twice.

“Little Johnny Green out puppet was custom made from America so it’s not as though we can nip down to Wilkos and get another one.

“We get changed for the encore, into hard hats and hi-vis jackets for a ravey, dancy number.

“So we put the normal stage wear down.

“The hat had been dumped outside. It is of great sentimental value, as they say.

“But we consider Little Johnny Green part of the band.

“It’s like someone being a fan of Queen and stealing Brian May’s red guitar. It’s absolutely shocking. This weekend in Blackburn we’re opening a book of condolences on the merchandise stall as he’s absolutely now part of the set.”

The Hotpots play King George’s Hall on Saturday.

A spokesman for the band said: “Boxer shorts belonging to percussionist Dickie Ticker were not taken in the raid.

“At the time of his kidnapping Johnny was wearing an ‘emo’ costume consisting of red and black striped jumper and black trousers.

“Immediately prior to the incident, Johnny was providing vocal accompaniment alongside lead singer Bernard Thresher on the minor 2007 novelty hit ‘He’s Turned Emo’. The one that sounds a little bit like the Hokey Cokey. If anyone has information as to the whereabouts of Little Johnny Green could you please contact the band in the strictest confidence either through the band’s official webside, social media channels or Bob Carolgees.”

Tickets for the Blackburn gig cost £14. The support is from Biscuithead & The Biscuit Badgers.